North Course at Mill Creek Golf Course Now Open

The North Course of the Mill Creek Golf Course is open for the season effective April 6. The Donald Ross-designed championship Mill Creek Golf Course is located at 1 West Golf Dr., Boardman, OH 44512. The South Course at the Mill Creek Golf Course will open at a later date.

The Course may close at any point due to inclement weather; call 330.740.7112 for the status of the Course. For more information about the Mill Creek Golf Course or to make a tee time, visit our website at millcreekmetroparks.org.

Friends Specialty at the Garden Café opens at Fellows Riverside Gardens

Friends Specialty at the Garden Café in Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens has officially opened for business. The Garden Café has been refreshed and newly updated and will offer an eclectic selection of teas, locally roasted coffee, a locally sourced lunch menu, delectable desserts, and other libations all served with a complimentary view of stunning Lake Glacier.

The Café is open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. for pastries, coffee, and tea. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  For more information or questions, please contact Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.702.3000.

Friends Specialty at the Garden Café opens at Fellows Riverside Gardens

Friends Specialty at the Garden Café in Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens has officially opened for business. The Garden Café has been refreshed and newly updated and will offer an eclectic selection of teas, locally roasted coffee, a locally sourced lunch menu, delectable desserts, and other libations all served with a complimentary view of stunning Lake Glacier.

 

The Café is open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. for pastries, coffee, and tea. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  For more information or questions, please contact Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.702.3000.

 

Mill Creek MetroParks announces 2015 budget cuts, capital improvement projects

The Board of Park Commissioners approved the Mill Creek MetroParks 2015 budget at the March board meeting Monday night. The 2015 budget contains $144,661 in cuts to various operating expense line items in the general fund.

“We took advantage of an opportunity to become more efficient utilizing tax dollars in fulfilling our mission,” said Executive Director Aaron Young. “Each individual department must be highly organized, efficient, and live within its budget.”

Despite these cuts, several major capital improvement projects will take place this year, the majority of which will be funded by monies from grants and the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation. Mill Creek MetroParks staff has secured more than $800,000 in funding for these projects.

Improvements and repairs will be made to the Lily Pond, Lanterman’s Mill, and the Mill Creek Golf Course, among other areas. Major capital improvement projects total $991,644, and 84% ($832,981) of this cost will be paid for by outside sources.

For more information or questions, please contact Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.702.3000.

Notice of March Board Meeting

The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks has been scheduled for Monday, March 9 at 6 p.m. at Birch Hill Cabin on McCollum Road in Youngstown (GPS Coordinates: +41.086759, -80.681641). The agenda will be available after 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

For more information or questions, please contact Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.702.3000.

Mill Creek MetroParks to hold Phantoms Skate/Meet & Greet at Lily Pond

Due to the cold temperatures, Mill Creek MetroParks has been able to provide an outdoor skating experience to visitors at the Lily Pond. Now the Youngstown Phantoms are getting in on the fun.

Mill Creek MetroParks will hold a Youngstown Phantoms Skate/Meet & Greet at the Lily Pond on Monday, February 16 from 4 – 5:30 p.m. as long as the weather permits safe skating conditions. Hockey lovers and skaters of all ages can come out and meet the Phantoms and have some fun with the players. The Lily Pond will be open for supervised skating that day from noon – 6 p.m.

Supervised ice skating this weekend will be today from 3 – 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Skating at the Lily Pond will continue Friday, February 20 from 3 – 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. as long as weather conditions will allow. The skating area will be open; however, the hockey area continues to be closed due to unsafe ice. Benches and a fire pit will be provided for the convenience of those not hitting the ice or those who need to rest or warm up. Interested skaters are asked to please bring skates as no skate rental will be available.

For questions and more information, call Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.702.3000 or visit our website at MillCreekMetroParks.org.

Mill Creek MetroParks receives Auditor of State Award

A recent financial audit of Mill Creek MetroParks by the Auditor of State’s office has returned a clean audit report and excellent record keeping, therefore earning the MetroParks the Auditor of State Award. The Auditor of State Award is presented to local governments and school districts upon the completion of a financial audit. Entities that receive the award meet the following criteria of a “clean” audit report:

  • The entity must file timely financial reports with the Auditor of State’s office in accordance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles);
  • The audit report does not contain any findings for recovery, material citations, material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, Single Audit findings or questioned costs;
  • The entity’s management letter contains no comments related to:

o    Ethics referrals

o    Questioned costs less than $10,000

o    Lack of timely report submission

o    Reconciliation

o    Failure to obtain a timely Single Audit

o    Findings for recovery less than $100

o    Public meetings or public records

This award will be presented at tonight’s Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks, held at 6 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd. Canfield, OH 44406.

Mill Creek MetroParks to present Jewels of Winter Orchid exhibit

Find the spirit of the tropics at Fellows Riverside Gardens with the Jewels of Winter Orchid exhibit, on display now through March 16 inside the D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center. Visit the Davis Center Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. to view these exotic beauties.

See more than one hundred orchid plants of many varieties on display. This year, the exhibit focuses on orchids that can be grown easily in the home. A series of classes and programs about orchid care will also be offered throughout February and March to provide further learning experiences about the orchid.

Orchid classes and programs at Fellows Riverside Gardens:

Celebrating Your Orchid’s First Birthday | 2/5, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Orchid Walk-About | 2/7, 10:30 – 11:30 am

Orchid Clinic | 2/18, 2 – 4 pm

Orchid Clinic | 3/3, 6 – 8 pm

Orchid Walk-About | 3/8, 10:30 – 11:30 am

Orchid Potting Workshop | 3/12, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Visit MillCreekMetroParks.org for class details and more information. Call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330.740.7116 for more information and to register for these orchid programs. The Davis Center is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Hit the Ice at Mill Creek MetroParks’ Lily Pond

While most may be anxiously awaiting spring, Mother Nature’s recent cold weather has once again given Mill Creek MetroParks a unique opportunity. Over the past few weeks, the temperatures have enabled the Lily Pond to freeze, allowing Mill Creek MetroParks to provide a safe outdoor skating experience to visitors.

Mill Creek MetroParks will host supervised ice skating at the Lily Pond beginning today from 3 – 6 p.m. Hours for this weekend will be Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. If conditions allow, supervised skating will continue next weekend on Friday, February 6 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. and will continue on Fridays from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. through February 22. Unsupervised skating is permitted during normal MetroParks hours. Benches and a fire pit will be provided for the convenience of those not hitting the ice or those who need to rest or warm up. Interested skaters are asked to please bring skates as no skate rental will be available. Safety is a priority for the MetroParks so at any time that the ice is deemed unsafe for use it will be closed.

Mill Creek MetroParks begins Lake Cohasset Improvement Project

Mill Creek MetroParks will begin the Lake Cohasset Improvement Project starting today. The project includes reconstruction of the failed shoulder on West Cohasset Drive as well as shoreline cleanup around portions of Lake Cohasset. The project will last approximately 4-5 weeks. During this time, West Cohasset Drive and the East Cohasset Hiking Trail will close periodically to public access.

Cleanup of the shoreline will include removal of woody debris including fallen and/or dead limbs, branches, and trees. Lake Cohasset water levels will be periodically adjusted and continually monitored to assist with shoreline cleanup and shoulder reconstruction efforts. To further aid in the cleanup, the MetroParks has obtained an Ohio EPA Open Burn Permit to burn woody debris on site.